There seems to be a received wisdom (at least over on Computer Audiophile)that for the sake of SQ, a computer playing to a DAC via USB shouldn't have any other USB devices attached.
Wondered if there was any basis to this and, if so, if it also applies to the BDP; e.g. if using USB as an output is it best not to use a USB hard drive or thumbdrive?
During my research, I paid close attention to the differences between the BDP-2 and BDP-1. BDP-1 is more affordable though still quite expensive in Croatia. BDP-2 cost significantly more and offered identical audio quality.
However, I was puzzled by Stereophile's conclusion that BDP-2, in some fashion, has a smoother top end than the BDP-1. How could that be when everything but the power supply is the same? But even Stereophile did not care to back this with measurements so my conclusion is that for all intents and purposes, they are the same.
What does this have to do with your question you ask? The bottom line is, I wouldn't worry too much about what others say. Computers have switch-mode power supplies and frankly, I doubt it would make any difference if you have one or two drives connected to the computer. The reason for that is that computer alone has numerous systems and subsystems, all of them working constantly and draining power from the same source. I this maze of interference, it would be impossible to tell the specific noise you are hearing comes from this or that.
In the prospect of BDP, it makes no difference I think because it's power supply is robuts and it has a linear regulator ensuring the system runs on exact voltage and current numbers. I certainly have not noticed any difference. I spent a good deal of time and money converting the PC into a silent component dedicated to audio playback. Still, the introduction of BDP-1 in my life was a dramatic one and just like that, it completely won me over with a noticeable and substantial improvement in audio quality. Clearly, the power supply, high-quality circuit boards and components in the BDP allowed for this and this is something an ordinary PC cannot do. I've learned that using a PC for such an undertake is destined to fail from the start because the very template is wrong - starting with the computers mother-board with insufficiently thick copper lanes and inadequately separated pathways to the average component quality chosen solely on the basis of conformity with the required specifications and perhaps, temperature requirements. And this is only the beginning...
I am generally very enthusiastic about computers and it is a good thing what people are doing because you can get a good playback system for less money but there are better solutions out there and Bryston is one of them.
Hope this helps!
Cheers!
Antun
